U.S. patent application number 10/972535 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-28 for photographic apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wang, Shouwei.
Application Number | 20050088546 10/972535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34510231 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050088546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang, Shouwei |
April 28, 2005 |
Photographic apparatus
Abstract
The photographic apparatus according to the present invention
comprises a posture detecting device which detects the posture of a
body of the photographic apparatus, a store instructing device
which instructs storing of a posture detected by the posture
detecting device, a posture storing device for storing the posture
detected by the posture detecting device in accordance with an
instruction from the store instructing device, a discrepancy extent
computing device which compares the posture stored by the posture
storing device and the current posture detected by the detecting
device, and computes the extent of any discrepancy of the current
posture from the posture stored by the posture storing device, and
a correction information generating device for generating
correction information for correcting the current posture to the
posture stored by the posture storing device on the basis of the
extent of the discrepancy computed by the discrepancy extent
computing device.
Inventors: |
Wang, Shouwei; (Asaka-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
34510231 |
Appl. No.: |
10/972535 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/239 ;
348/207.99; 348/E5.042 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/23222
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/239 ;
348/207.99 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 27, 2003 |
JP |
2003-366317 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A photographic apparatus comprising: a posture detecting device
which detects the posture of a body of the photographic apparatus,
a store instructing device which instructs storing of a posture
detected by said posture detecting device, a posture storing device
for storing the posture detected by said posture detecting device
in accordance with an instruction from said store instructing
device, a discrepancy extent computing device which compares the
posture stored by said posture storing device and the current
posture detected by said detecting device, and computes the extent
of any discrepancy of the current posture from the posture stored
by said posture storing device; and a correction information
generating device for generating correction information for
correcting the current posture to the posture stored by said
posture storing device on the basis of the extent of the
discrepancy computed by said discrepancy extent computing
device.
2. The photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
correction information generating device causes the correcting
direction for the posture of the body of said photographic
apparatus to be displayed on a display device on the basis of the
extent of any discrepancy computed by said discrepancy extent
computing device, and correction information to be generated.
3. The photographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
photographic apparatus is an electronic camera which takes a
picture with an image pickup element and records the picture so
taken on a recording medium as picture data, a real-time picture
taken by said image pickup element is displayed on said display
device, and said correcting direction is superposed over the
real-time picture in the display.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a photographic apparatus,
and more particularly to a photographic apparatus capable of
detecting the posture of its own body.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] When one visits a tourism resort or the like, he may ask
someone else to take a picture with his own camera to make a visual
record of the scene in which he himself is present in memory of the
trip.
[0005] However, this involves a problem that a picture taken by the
requested person may have a different composition from the camera
owner's own intention, and therefore it is difficult to have a
satisfactory picture taken.
[0006] In view of this problem, the Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2002-94854 proposes an idea that the camera owner
first takes a picture in a composition of his own choice and, when
he asks someone else to take a picture, causes that picture to be
superposed over a through image and displayed on the monitor
screen, and thereby facilitates shooting of a picture containing
his own image in a composition of his own choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] However, a through image will become difficult to see if
another picture is superposed over it on the monitor screen as
proposed by the Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2002-94854, and this difficulty might rather impede intended
picture taking.
[0008] Or if the superposed images are not fully consistent with
each other, the person asked to take a picture may be confused.
[0009] An object of the present invention, attempted in view of
these circumstances, is to provide a photographic apparatus which
can have a picture in a composition of its owner's own choice taken
by anybody else.
[0010] In order to achieve the object stated above, according to a
first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
photographic apparatus comprising a posture detecting device which
detects the posture of a body of the photographic apparatus, a
store instructing device which instructs storing of a posture
detected by the posture detecting device, a posture storing device
for storing the posture detected by the posture detecting device in
accordance with an instruction from the store instructing device, a
discrepancy extent computing device which compares the posture
stored the posture storing device and the current posture detected
by the detecting device, and computes the extent of any discrepancy
of the current posture from the posture stored by the posture
storing device, and a correction information generating device for
generating correction information for correcting the current
posture to the posture stored by the posture storing device on the
basis of the extent of the discrepancy computed by the discrepancy
extent computing device.
[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, when
the store instructing device instructs storing of the posture of
the body of the photographic apparatus, the posture of the body of
the photographic apparatus detected by the posture detecting device
is stored by the posture storing device. Then, the extent of any
discrepancy of the current posture of the body of the photographic
apparatus from the posture stored by this posture storing device is
computed by the discrepancy extent computing device, and correction
information for correcting the current posture to the posture
stored by the storing device on the basis of the computed extent of
discrepancy is generated by the correction information generating
device. The photographer can take a picture in the same posture as
the posture at the time the instruction for storing was issued by
the store instructing device by correcting the posture of the body
of the photographic apparatus on the basis of the correction
information generated by this correction information generating
device.
[0012] In order to achieve the object stated above, according to a
second aspect of the present invention, the correction information
generating device according to the first aspect may cause the
correcting direction for the posture of the body of the
photographic apparatus to be displayed on a display device on the
basis of the extent of any discrepancy computed by the discrepancy
extent computing device, and correction information to be
generated.
[0013] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the
correcting direction is displayed on the display device. This
enables the posture of the body of the photographic apparatus to be
readily corrected.
[0014] In order to achieve the object stated above according to a
third aspect of the present invention, the photographic apparatus
according to the second aspect may be an electronic camera which
takes a picture with an image pickup element and records the
picture so taken on a recording medium as video data, wherein a
real-time picture taken by the image pickup element is displayed on
the display device, and the correcting direction is superposed over
the real-time picture in the display.
[0015] According to the third aspect of the present invention,
since the correction information is displayed superposed over the
real-time picture (through image) displayed on the display device,
the person who requests shooting can convey the composition of his
own intention more clearly to the requested photographer.
[0016] According to the invention, when one requests somebody else
to take a picture on his behalf, he can convey his own idea of the
picture more clearly to the requested photographer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front face of a digital
camera to which the present invention is applied;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear face of the digital
camera to which the invention is applied;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration
of the digital camera to which the invention is applied;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a posture detecting
sensor;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates the detecting angle of the posture
detecting sensor;
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates the detecting angle of the posture
detecting sensor in another way;
[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates the detecting angle of the posture
detecting sensor in still another way;
[0024] FIGS. 8A to 8C show examples of shooting menu displayed;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the procedure of image pickup
processing in a requested shooting mode;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the procedure of posture record
processing;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the procedure of display
processing of the correcting direction;
[0028] FIGS. 12A to 12C show examples of icons of the correcting
direction displayed;
[0029] FIGS. 13A to 13I show another examples of icons of the
correcting direction displayed;
[0030] FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the procedure of image pickup
processing by a digital camera, which is a second preferred
embodiment of the invention; and
[0031] FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the procedure of image pickup
processing in the requested shooting mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Preferred embodiments of the present invention realized in
one or another form of photographic apparatus will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show perspective views of the front and
rear faces, respectively, of a digital camera 10 to which the
present invention is applied.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, on the front face of a camera body 12,
there are disposed a lens 14, an electronic flash 16, a view finder
18, a self-timer lamp 20 and so forth, and a shutter release button
26, a power switch button 28 and so forth are disposed on the top
face.
[0035] On the rear face of the camera body 12, there are disposed a
monitor 30, a view finder eyepiece 32, a strobe button 34, a macro
button 36, a zooming lever 38, a display button 40, a BACK button
42, a menu/OK button 44, a cross button 48, a mode selector switch
50 and so forth as shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] The shutter release button 26 is configured of a two-step
stroke switch which permits half pressing and full pressing. Half
pressing of this shutter release button 26 actuates the AE/AF (Auto
Exposure/Auto Focus) function of the camera, and a picture is taken
when the button is full pressed.
[0037] The monitor 30 comprises a liquid crystal display capable of
color displaying. The monitor 30 is used as the display screen for
both recorded pictures and user interfacing. The monitor 30 also
serves as an electronic view finder when a picture is taken. The
display button 40 functions as a button to instruct changing of the
displayed content on the monitor 30.
[0038] The electronic flash button 34 functions as a button to
change over the electronic flash mode. Each time the electronic
flash button 34 is pressed, the electronic flash mode in use when a
picture is taken is changed over from "Auto Electronic Flash" to
"Anti-Red Eye Electronic Flash", "Forced Electronic Flash
Lighting", "Slow Synchronization" and "Prohibit Electronic Flash
Lighting" in that sequence.
[0039] The macro button 36 functions as a button to instruct ON/OFF
switching of the macro function. Each time the macro button 36 is
pressed, the macro function to be used when a picture is taken is
turned on or off.
[0040] The zooming lever 38 functions as a lever to instruct
zooming (in or out) on the object whose picture is to be taken, and
also functions as a lever to instruct enlarging or reducing the
displayed image. The zooming lever 38 is swingable up and down.
Turning it upward results in zooming in, while turning it downward
results in zooming out.
[0041] The menu/OK button 44 functions as a button to instruct
transition from a normal screen to a menu screen in each mode (menu
button), and also functions as a button to make definite the choice
made on the screen and to instruct its execution (OK button). The
BACK button 42 functions as a button to instruct cancellation of an
input operation or the like.
[0042] The cross button 48 functions as a button to enter
instructions in four directions, up and down, right and left, and
is used for selecting any offered item on a menu screen or other
similar purposes.
[0043] The mode selector switch 50 functions as a switch to
instruct changing over from one mode to another, and is slidable
between "Shooting Position" and "Playback Position". When the mode
selector switch 50 is turned to its "Shooting Position", the
digital camera 10 is set to the "Shooting Mode", or when it is
turned to its "Playback Position", the camera is set to the
"Playback Mode".
[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the
internal configuration of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2.
[0045] The overall operation of the digital camera 10 is under the
integrated control of a central processing unit (CPU) 110. The CPU
110 controls the camera system under prescribed programs on the
basis of input information from an operating unit 112 (including
the shutter release button 26, power switch button 28, strobe
button 34, macro button 36, zooming lever 38, display button 40,
BACK button 42, menu/OK button 44, cross button 48 and mode
selector switch 50).
[0046] A ROM 116 connected to the CPU 110 via a bus 114 stores
various data and the like necessary for programs and controls
executed by the CPU 110, and an EEPROM 118 stores various items of
setting information regarding the operation of the digital camera
10, including folder management information. A memory (SDRAM) 120
is used not only as the area for arithmetic operations by the CPU
110 but also as that for temporary storage of video data and audio
data. A VRAM 122 is used as a temporary storage area dedicated to
video data.
[0047] The digital camera 10 is enabled to take a picture when the
mode selector switch 50 is set to the shooting mode, and power is
then supplied to the photographic unit including a charge coupled
device (CCD) 124.
[0048] Light having passed the lens 14 forms an image on the light
receiving face of the CCD 124 via an iris diaphragm 15. Many
photodiodes (light receiving elements) are two-dimensionally
arranged on the light receiving face of the CCD 124, and primary
color filters of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) matching the
photodiodes are arranged in a prescribed structure (such as Bayer,
G stripe or else). The CCD 124 has an electronic shutter function
to control the duration of electric charge accumulation in the
photodiodes (shutter speed), and the CPU 110 controls the duration
of electric charge accumulation in the CCD 124 via a timing
generator 126.
[0049] The image of the object formed on the light receiving face
of the CCD 124 are converted by the photodiodes into signal charges
matching the quantity of incident light. The signal charges
accumulated in the photodiodes are successively read out in
accordance with an instruction from the CPU 110 as voltage signals
(image signals) matching the signal charges on the basis of drive
pulses provided by the timing generator 126.
[0050] The image signals supplied by the CCD 124 are delivered to
an analog processing unit (CDS/AMP) 128, where R, G and B signals
for individual pixels, after being subjected to sampling hold
(correlated double sampling), are amplified and fed to an A/D
converter 130.
[0051] The A/D converter 130 converts R, G and B signals supplied
from the analog processing unit 128 into digital R, G and B
signals. The digital R, G and B signals supplied from the A/D
converter 130 are stored into the memory 120 via a picture input
controller 132.
[0052] A image signal processing circuit 134 processes R, G and B
signals stored in the memory 120 in accordance with instructions
from the CPU 110. Thus, the image signal processing circuit 134
functions as image processing device containing a synchronizing
circuit (a processing circuit for interpolating spatial
discrepancies of color signals ensuing from the color filter
arrangement of one-charged CCD and converting the color signals
into simultaneous signals), a white balance correction circuit, a
gamma correction circuit, a contour correction circuit and a
luminance/color differential signal generating circuit, and
performs a prescribed signal processing in accordance with
instructions from the CPU 110 while utilizing the memory 120. R, G
and B signals entered into the image signal processing circuit 134
are converted into luminance signals (Y signals) and color
differential signals (Cr and Cb signals) by the image signal
processing circuit 134 and, after going through a prescribed
processing including gamma correction, are stored into the VRAM
122.
[0053] When a taken picture is to be displayed on the monitor 30,
the picture is delivered from the VRAM 122 to a video encoder 136
via a character MIX circuit 135. The video encoder 136 converts the
entered video data into signals of a prescribed formula for the
displaying purpose (e.g. color composite video signals of the NTSC
system) and supplies the converted signals to the monitor 30. This
results in displaying of the picture taken by the CCD 124 on the
monitor 30.
[0054] By periodically taking in image signals from the CCD 124,
replacing periodically video data in the VRAM 122 with video data
generated from those image signals, and supplying those replacing
video data to the monitor 30, a picture taken by the CCD 124 is
displayed on a real time basis. The photographer can confirm the
angle of view by looking at this picture displayed on the monitor
30 on a real time basis (through image).
[0055] The character MIX circuit 135 synthesizes the video data
supplied from the VRAM 122 with prescribed characters and symbolic
data supplied from the memory 120 in accordance with commands from
the CPU 110, and supplies the synthesized information to the video
encoder 136. This results in displaying of this information
including characters and symbols superposed on the through
image.
[0056] A picture is taken by pressing down the shutter release
button 26. When the shutter release button 26 is half pressed
first, an S1-on signal is entered into the CPU 110, and the CPU 110
starts an AE/AF processing.
[0057] First, the image signals taken in from the CCD 124 via the
picture input controller 132 are entered into an AF detecting
circuit 138 and an AE/AWB (Auto Exposure/Auto White Blanket)
detecting circuit 140.
[0058] The AE/AWB detecting circuit 140, which includes a circuit
which divides each frame into a plurality of areas (e.g.
16.times.16) and cumulatively adds the R, G and B signals in each
divided area, provides the cumulative sums to the CPU 110. The CPU
110 detects the brightness of the object (object luminance) on the
basis of the cumulative sums obtained from the AE/AWB detecting
circuit 140, and computes the exposure value (photographic EV)
suitable for the shooting. Then the CPU 110 determines the aperture
stop and the shutter speed from the figured-out photographic EV and
prescribed program lines, and accordingly controls the electronic
shutter release and the aperture drive unit 142 of the CCD 124 to
achieve an appropriate quantity of exposure.
[0059] When the white balance is automatically adjusted, the AE/AWB
detecting circuit 140 computes the average cumulative sums of the
R, G and B signals separately for each color and each divided area,
and provides the computed results to the CPU 110. The CPU 110
figures out the R/G and B/G ratios in each divided area from the
acquired cumulative sums of R, B and G, and determines the type of
light source on the basis of the distribution of the figured-out
R/G and B/G values in the color spaces of R/G and B/G among other
factors. Then according to the white balance adjustment value
suitable for the determined type of light source, the gains of the
white balance adjusting circuit for the R, G and B signals (white
balance correction values) are controlled, for instance to make the
value of each ratio approximately 1 (i.e. the cumulative RGB ratio
per frame R:G:B.ltoreq.1:1:1), and to correct signals on the each
color channel.
[0060] The AF detecting circuit 138 is configured of a high pass
filter which passes only the high frequency component of G signals,
an absolutizing unit, an AF area extracting unit for cutting out
signals in a prescribed focused area (e.g. the central area of the
frame), and an accumulating unit for cumulatively adding absolute
value data in the AF area, and the data of cumulative sums figured
out by the AF detecting circuit 138 is notified to the CPU 110. The
CPU 110, while controlling a focusing lens drive unit 144A to shift
a focusing lens 14A, computes focus evaluation values (AF
evaluation values) at a plurality of AF detection points, and
determines the lens position where the evaluation value is the
maximum as the in-focus position. Then the CPU 110 so controls the
focusing lens drive unit 144A as to shift the focusing lens 14A to
the in-focus position so determined.
[0061] Thus, in response to the half pressing of the shutter
release button 26, an AE/AF processing is performed.
[0062] The photographer manipulates as required the zooming lever
38 to zoom the lens 14 to adjust the angle of view. When the
zooming lever 38 is turned upward (in the telescopic direction), a
zoom-in signal is entered into the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 in
response to this signal drives a zoom lens drive unit 144B to shift
a zoom lens 14B in the telescopic direction. When the zooming lever
38 is turned downward (in the wide angle direction), a zoom-out
signal is entered into the CPU 110, and the CPU 110 in response to
this signal drives the zoom lens drive unit 144B to shift the zoom
lens 14B in the wide angle direction.
[0063] After that, when the shutter release button 26 is fully
pressed, an S2-on signal is entered into the CPU 110, and the CPU
110 starts a picture taking and record processing. Thus, video data
acquired in response to the S2-on signal are converted into
luminance/color differential signals (Y/C signals) by the image
signal processing circuit 134, and the converted signals, after
going through a prescribed processing including gamma correction,
are stored into the memory 120.
[0064] The video data stored into the memory 120, after being
compressed into a prescribed format (e.g. the JPEG format) by a
compressing/expanding circuit 146, are recorded onto a recording
medium 150 via a medium controller 148.
[0065] If the playback mode is selected with the mode selector
switch 50, video data (the video data last recorded on the
recording medium 150) are read out of the recording medium 150. The
read-out video data, after being expanded into non-compressed YC
signals by the compressing/expanding circuit 146, are supplied to
the monitor 30 via the image signal processing circuit 134, the
character MIX circuit 135 and the video encoder 136. In this way, a
picture recorded in the recording medium 150 is reproduced and
displayed on the monitor 30.
[0066] Frame-by-frame reproduction of a picture is accomplished by
manipulating the cross button 48. If the right side key of the
cross button 48 is pressed, the next set of video data will be read
out of the recording medium 150, reproduced and displayed on the
monitor 30. Or if the left side key of the cross button 48 is
pressed, the preceding set of video data will be read out of the
recording medium 150, reproduced and displayed on the monitor
30.
[0067] The digital camera 10, embodying the present invention as
described above, can photograph and reproduce still images, and one
of its photographic functions enables a picture in a composition
intended by its owner to be taken by another person. This function
is intended to have the posture of the camera to take a picture in
a composition intended by the owner stored in advance by the camera
and thereby enable another person requested to take a picture on
behalf of the owner to keep the camera in the same posture as the
stored posture. This function of requested picture taking will be
described below.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, a posture detecting sensor 152 for
detecting the posture of the camera body 12 is installed inside the
camera body 12.
[0069] The posture detecting sensor 152 detects the inclination
angles .theta..sub.x, .theta..sub.y and .theta..sub.z of the X, Y
and Z axes, respectively, of the camera body 12, the X axis being
parallel to the horizontal axis, the Y axis being parallel to the
vertical axis, both of the camera body 12, and the Z axis being
parallel to the optical axis L of the lens 14.
[0070] The inclination angle .theta..sub.x here is detected, as
shown in FIG. 5, where the X axis is held horizontal, by an
acceleration sensor (X) with reference to the 0 degree angle of
inclination from that horizontal state (i.e. the angle of rotation
of the X axis around the Z axis).
[0071] The inclination angle .theta..sub.y is detected, as shown in
FIG. 6, where the Y axis is held vertical, by an acceleration
sensor (Y) with reference to the 0 degree angle of inclination from
that vertical state (i.e. the angle of rotation of the Y axis
around the X axis).
[0072] The inclination angle .theta..sub.x is detected, as shown in
FIG. 7, where the Z axis is held southward, by a magnetic sensor
with reference to the 0 degree angle of inclination from the
southward direction, (i.e. the angle of rotation of the Z axis
around the Y axis).
[0073] The posture data (.theta..sub.x, .theta..sub.y and
.theta..sub.z) detected by the posture detecting sensor 152 are
entered into the CPU 110.
[0074] The function of requested picture taking is called from a
shooting menu, and set. Thus, when the menu/OK button 44 is pressed
in the shooting mode, the screen of the shooting menu is displayed
on the monitor 30 as shown in FIG. 8A, and "Requested Picture
Taking" is selected out of the options in this shooting menu. The
selection of any option in the menu is accomplished by moving the
cursor to that option with the cross button 48, and the selected
option is displayed in reversal. When the cursor is moved to the
desired option in the menu and the menu/OK button 44 is pressed,
the selection is finalized.
[0075] By selecting "Requested Picture Taking" from the shooting
menu in this way, the digital camera 10 is set to the requested
picture taking mode. The CPU 110 judges whether or not the camera
has been set in the requested picture taking mode and, if it judges
that the camera has been set to the requested picture taking mode,
will begin the processing of requested picture taking in accordance
with the flow chart shown in FIG. 9.
[0076] When the camera is set to the requested picture taking mode,
first the storing of the posture is processed (step S11). Thus, the
composition in which the picture is to be taken by somebody else is
judged, and the camera is caused to store the posture it will have
to take for that composition. This processing of posture storing is
accomplished in the procedure charted in FIG. 10.
[0077] When the option of "Requested Picture Taking" is selected
from the shooting menu shown in FIG. 8A, the screen of the monitor
30 is changed over to the through image as shown in FIG. 8B. At the
same time, a message urging picture taking for posture storing
("Determine Composition and Press Shutter Release Button") is
displayed, superposed over the through image. The user (the person
who requests the picture taking), in response to this message,
determines the composition in which he desires to have the picture
taken. Thus, he operates the zoom, and determines the angle of view
at which he desires for the shot.
[0078] Hereupon, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the zooming
lever 38 has been manipulated upward (in the telescopic direction)
(step S20) and, if it judges in the affirmative, will issue a
command to the zoom lens drive unit 144B to zoom in the zoom lens
14B (step S21). Or if the CPU 110 finds that the zooming lever 38
has not been manipulated upward (in the telescopic direction), it
will judge whether or not the zooming lever 38 has been manipulated
downward (in the wide angle direction) (step S22) and, if it judges
in the affirmative, will issue a command to the zoom lens drive
unit 144B to zoom out the zoom lens 14B (step S23).
[0079] In this way, the user manipulates the zoom, determines the
angle of view at which he desires to take the picture and, when he
has determined it, fully presses the shutter release button 26. The
CPU 110 judges whether or not the shutter release button 26 has
been fully pressed (step S24). If the CPU 110 judges in the
affirmative, the CPU 110 will acquire video data from the CCD 124
and at the same time acquire posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) from the posture detecting
sensor 152 (step S25).
[0080] Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the CPU 110 causes the acquired
video data to be preview-displayed on the monitor 30 and a message
to ask whether or not to store the data ("Store?") (step S26). The
user judges on the basis of this display on the monitor 30 whether
or not it is required to store the data and, if it is, will press
the menu/OK button 44 or, if data are to be acquired anew, press
the BACK button 42.
[0081] The CPU 110, on the basis of an input from the operating
unit 112, judges whether or not the data require to be stored (step
S27) and, if the BACK button 42 is pressed and the need for storing
is denied, will return to step S20 to redo the processing from the
determination of the angle of view onward.
[0082] Or if the menu/OK button 44 is pressed and the need for
storing is affirmed, the CPU 110 will record into the EEPROM 118
the acquired posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and
.theta..sub.z1) as the basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) (step S28).
[0083] Hereupon, the CPU 110 judges whether or not there are
previously acquired basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) in the storage area of the
EEPROM 118 (step S29). If the CPU 110 judges there are not, the CPU
110 will write as they are the basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) acquired from the posture
detecting sensor 152 (step S30). Or if previously acquired basic
posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1)
are remaining, the basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) acquired from the posture
detecting sensor 152 will be written over them (step S31).
[0084] After that, in order to prevent the angle of view from being
varied by an inadvertent manipulation of the zoom, the CPU 110
turns on a zoom lock flag to make zooming impossible (step
S32).
[0085] The processing of posture recording is completed by going
through these steps. After that, the user (the person who requests
the picture taking) hands over the digital camera 10 to the person
who is to do the actual shooting, and asks the latter to take the
picture.
[0086] The user moves around to settle the intended picture within
the composition of his own choice, and the person requested to take
the picture shoots in the position where the user (the person who
has requested the picture taking) shot for posture recording.
[0087] The person requested to take the picture half-presses the
shutter release button 26 to focus on the object. The CPU 110
judges whether or not the shutter release button 26 is half-pressed
(step S12); if it judges in the affirmative, performs AE/AF
processing, and acquires posture data (.theta..sub.x2,
.theta..sub.y2 and .theta..sub.z2) from the posture detecting
sensor 152 (step S13).
[0088] Then, the CPU 110 compares the acquired posture data
(.theta..sub.x2, .theta..sub.y2 and .theta..sub.z2) with the basic
posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1)
stored in the EEPROM 118, and judges whether or not they are
identical (step S14). If the CPU 110 judges they are not, the CPU
110 will perform a display processing of the correcting direction
according to the extent of discrepancy (step S15).
[0089] This display processing of the correcting direction is
performed in the following procedure shown in the flow chart of
FIG. 11.
[0090] First, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the inclination
(the measured inclination angle .theta..sub.x2) of the horizontal
axis (the X axis) is within a range of .+-.5 degrees from the
inclination of the basic posture (the basic inclination angle
.theta..sub.x1). Thus, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the
measured inclination angle .theta..sub.x2 satisfies an inequality
(.theta..sub.x1-5).theta..sub.x2<(.theta..sub.- x1+5) (step
S40).
[0091] If the CPU 110 judges that the measured inclination angle
.theta..sub.x2 does not satisfy the inequality
(.theta..sub.x1-5).theta..- sub.x2<(.theta..sub.x1+5), then it
will judge whether or not the X axis is inclined by not less than
+5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination angle
.theta..sub.x1). Thus, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the
measured inclination angle .theta..sub.x2 satisfies an inequality
(.theta..sub.x1+5).ltoreq..theta..sub.x2 (step S41).
[0092] Then the CPU 110, if it judges that the X axis is inclined
by not less than +5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination
angle .theta..sub.x1), will cause, with a view to correcting the
deviation, an icon for correcting the inclination of the horizontal
axis of the camera body 12 in the minus direction to be displayed
on the monitor 30 (step S42). For instance, as shown in FIG. 12A,
it displays the icon bearing an L-shaped arrow in the upper left
corner of the monitor 30.
[0093] Or if the inclination of the X axis is not inclined more
than -5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination angle
.theta..sub.x1), the CPU 110 will cause an icon for correcting the
inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body 12 in the
plus direction to be displayed on the monitor (step S43). For
instance, as shown in FIG. 12C, it displays the icon bearing an
L-shaped arrow in the upper right corner of the monitor 30.
[0094] If the measured inclination angle .theta..sub.x2 satisfies
the inequality
(.theta..sub.x1-5)<.theta..sub.x2<(.theta..sub.x1+5), the CPU
110 will not cause the icon for correcting the inclination of the
horizontal axis (the X axis) of the camera body 12 to be shown
(step S44), but will shift to the process of judging the
inclination of the vertical axis (the Y axis) of the camera body
12.
[0095] Thus, first the CPU 110 judges whether or not the
inclination (the measured inclination angle .theta..sub.y2) of the
vertical axis (the Y axis) is within a range of .+-.5 degrees from
the inclination of the basic posture (the basic inclination angle
.theta..sub.y1) (judges whether or not the measured inclination
angle .theta..sub.y2 satisfies an inequality
(.theta..sub.y1-5)<.theta..sub.y2<(.theta..sub.y1+5) (step
S45).
[0096] The CPU 110, if it judges that the measured inclination
angle .theta..sub.y2 does not satisfy the inequality
(.theta..sub.y1-5)<.the- ta..sub.y2<(.theta..sub.y1+5), will
then judge whether or not the Y axis is inclined from the basic
posture (the inclination angle .theta..sub.y1) by not less than +5.
Thus, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the measured inclination
angle .theta..sub.y2 satisfies the inequality
(.theta..sub.y1+5).ltoreq..theta..sub.y2 (step S46).
[0097] Then the CPU 110, if it judges that the Y axis is inclined
by not less than +5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination
angle .theta..sub.y1), will cause, with a view to correcting the
deviation, an icon for correcting the inclination of the vertical
axis of the camera body 12 in the minus direction to be displayed
on the monitor (step S47). For instance, as shown in FIG. 13B, it
displays the icon bearing a downward arrow in the bottom center of
the monitor 30.
[0098] Or if the inclination of the Y axis is not inclined more
than -5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination angle
.theta..sub.y1), the CPU 110 will cause an icon for correcting the
inclination of the vertical axis of the camera body 12 in the plus
direction to be displayed on the monitor (step S48). For instance,
as shown in FIG. 13H, it displays the icon bearing an upward arrow
in the top center of the monitor 30.
[0099] If the measured inclination angle .theta..sub.y2 satisfies
the inequality
(.theta..sub.y1-5)<.theta..sub.y2<(.theta..sub.y1+5), the CPU
110 will not have the icon for correcting the inclination of the
vertical axis (the Y axis) the camera body 12 to be displayed (step
S49), but will shift to the process of judging the inclination of
the Z axis of the camera body 12.
[0100] Thus, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the inclination (the
measured inclination angle .theta..sub.z2) of the Z axis of the
camera body 12 is within a range of .+-.5 degrees from the
inclination of the basic posture (the basic inclination angle
.theta..sub.z1) (whether or not the measured inclination angle
.theta..sub.z2 satisfies an inequality
(.theta..sub.z1-5)<.theta..sub.z2<(.theta..sub.z1+5)) (step
S50).
[0101] The CPU 110, if it judges that the measured inclination
angle .theta..sub.z2 does not satisfy the inequality
(.theta..sub.z1-5)<.the- ta..sub.z2<(.theta..sub.z1+5), will
then judge whether or not the Z axis is inclined from the basic
posture (the inclination angle .theta..sub.z1) by not less than +5
degrees. Thus the CPU 110 judges whether or not the measured
inclination angle .theta..sub.z2 satisfies the inequality
(.theta..sub.z1+5).ltoreq..theta..sub.z2 (step S51).
[0102] Then the CPU 110, if it judges that the Z axis is inclined
by not less than +5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination
angle .theta..sub.z1), will cause, with a view to correcting the
deviation, an icon for correcting the inclination of the optical
axis in the minus direction to be displayed on the monitor 30 (step
S52). For instance, as shown in FIG. 13F, it displays the icon
bearing a rightward arrow in the right center of the monitor
30.
[0103] Or if the inclination of the Z axis is inclined by not more
than -5 degrees from the basic posture (the inclination angle
.theta..sub.z1), the CPU 110 will cause an icon for correcting the
inclination of the optical axis in the plus direction to be
displayed on the monitor (step S53). For instance, as shown in FIG.
13D, it displays the icon bearing a leftward arrow in the left
center of the monitor 30.
[0104] If the measured inclination angle .theta..sub.z2 satisfies
the inequality
(.theta..sub.z1-5)<.theta..sub.z2<(.theta..sub.z1+5), the CPU
110 will not have the icon for correcting the inclination of the Z
axis of the camera body 12 to be displayed (step S54), and end a
display processing of the correcting direction.
[0105] The user (the person requested to take the picture) corrects
the posture of the camera body 12 according to this icon
information displayed on the monitor 30.
[0106] After that, the CPU 110 again judges whether or not the
shutter release button 26 is half-pressed (step S16) and, if it
judges that the shutter release button 26 is half-pressed, will
return to step 13 to acquire posture data again from the posture
detecting sensor 152. On the basis of the acquired posture data,
the CPU 110 determines the correcting direction, and have the
necessary icon for the determined correcting direction
displayed.
[0107] In this way, the icon of the correcting direction is updated
every time the shutter release button 26 is half-pressed. The
photographer repeats the half pressing of the shutter release
button 26 and posture correction until any icon of the correcting
direction is no longer displayed. When any icon of the correcting
direction ceases to appear, the photographer fully presses the
shutter release button 26.
[0108] The CPU 110 judges whether or not the shutter release button
26 has been fully pressed (step S17) and, if the button is found
fully pressed, will process recording of picture data (step S18).
Thus, the CPU 110 takes in picture data from the CCD 124, subjects
them to a necessary signal processing, and record them on the
recording medium 150. In this way, a picture in the composition
intended by the user is taken.
[0109] In the sequence described so far, the processing of
requested picture taking is completed. After this sequence, the CPU
110 turns off the zoom lock flag (step S19) to recover a state in
which zooming is possible, and returns the shooting mode to the
normal shooting mode.
[0110] As described above, the digital camera 10 embodying the
present invention in this manner can, once the user determines the
composition in which he desires a picture to be taken, can have the
camera store the posture of the camera body 12 then (the basic
posture). Then, necessary correction information for causing the
camera to take the picture in that stored posture (the basis
posture) is displayed on the monitor 30. By using this function, a
picture in a composition intended by the user can be easily taken
even when someone else is asked to release the shutter. Moreover,
since only the correcting direction is displayed on the monitor 30
regarding the correction information, the user can clearly perceive
the required extent of correction, and the person requested to take
the picture would be in no way confused. Further, the visibility of
the through image would not be obstructed either.
[0111] Although the icon of the correcting direction is supposed to
be displayed superposed over the through image in this embodiment,
the icon of the correcting direction may as well be displayed
independently.
[0112] Also, the icons need not be displayed in the way exemplified
in the description of this embodiment, but any other form of icon
that can clearly indicate the required correcting direction would
be acceptable.
[0113] Or where the camera body 12 is equipped with a loudspeaker,
correction information can as well be notified aurally.
[0114] Incidentally, in the first embodiment of the present
invention, whereas the icon of the correcting direction is supposed
to be displayed only when any axis is inclined from the basic
posture by either not less than +5 degrees or not more than -5
degrees, this is because any deviation within the range of .+-.5
degrees is set to be a tolerable error. Therefore, where more
strict correction is required, the range of tolerance can be
narrowed.
[0115] FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the procedure of image pickup
control by another digital camera 10, which is a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0116] In the digital camera 10 embodying the present invention in
this manner, when the shutter release button 26 is half-pressed in
normal shooting, the posture data of the camera body 12 at the time
are acquired from the posture detecting sensor 152 and stored in
the EEPROM 118.
[0117] When the mode of the camera is set in the shooting mode with
the mode selector switch 50, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the
camera is set to the requested picture taking mode (step S60).
Incidentally, the setting in the requested picture taking mode is
accomplished on the shooting menu in the same way as in the first
embodiment described above.
[0118] If it is judged here that the camera is not set in the
requested picture taking mode, the camera will operate in the
normal shooting mode as described below.
[0119] First, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the zooming lever
38 has been manipulated upward (in the telescopic direction) (step
S61) and, if it judges in the affirmative, will issue a command to
the zoom lens drive unit 144B to zoom in the zoom lens 14B (step
S62). Or if it judges that the zooming lever 38 has not been
manipulated upward (in the telescopic direction), the CPU 110 will
judge whether or not the zooming lever 38 has been manipulated
downward (in the wide angle direction) (step 63) and, if it judges
in the affirmative, issue a command to the zoom lens drive unit
144B to zoom out the zoom lens 14B (step 64).
[0120] Next, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the shutter release
button 26 is half-pressed (step S65); if it judges in the
affirmative, will perform an AE/AF processing, and acquire posture
data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta.y.sub.1 and .theta..sub.z1) from the
posture detecting sensor 152 (step S66). Then it records the
acquired posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and
.theta..sub.z1) in the EEPROM 118 as the basic posture data
(.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) (step S67).
[0121] Hereupon the CPU 110 judges whether or not there are the
previously acquired basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) in the EEPROM 118 (step S68). If
it judges there are not, the CPU 110 writes as they are the basic
posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1)
acquired from the posture detecting sensor 152 (step S69). Or if
the previously acquired basic posture data (.theta..sub.x1,
.theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) still remain, the basic posture
data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1) acquired
from the posture detecting sensor 152 will be written over them
(step S70).
[0122] After that, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the shutter
release button 26 is fully pressed (step S71) and, if it judges in
the affirmative, will process recording of picture data (step S72).
Thus, it takes in the picture data from the CCD 124, subjects them
to a necessary signal processing, and record them on the recording
medium 150.
[0123] What has been described so far is the operating procedure of
the normal shooting mode, and the posture data of the camera body
are stored by the camera during the shooting process in this normal
shooting mode. Therefore, where somebody else is to be asked to
take a picture, it is necessary either to shoot, immediately before
asking, a picture in the desired composition or determine a
composition and half-press the shutter release button 26 in
advance.
[0124] If it is judged at step S60 that the camera is set in the
requested picture taking mode, the digital camera 10 will operate
in the requested picture taking mode. In the requested picture
taking mode, image pickup is processed in the sequence shown in
FIG. 15.
[0125] First, in order to prevent the angle of view from being
varied by an inadvertent manipulation of the zoom, the CPU 110
turns on a zoom lock flag to make zooming impossible (step
S80).
[0126] The user hands over the camera in this state to somebody
else whom he is to request to take a picture, and moves to a
shooting point of his own choice. On the other hand, the person
requested to take a picture, half-presses the shutter release
button 26 and focuses on the object. The CPU 110 judges whether or
not this shutter release button 26 is half-pressed (step S81); if
the CPU 110 judges in the affirmative, it will perform an AE/AF
processing and acquire posture data (.theta..sub.x2, .theta..sub.y2
and .theta..sub.z2) from the posture detecting sensor 152 (step
S82).
[0127] Then the CPU 110 compares the acquired posture data
(.theta..sub.x2, .theta..sub.y2 and .theta..sub.z2) and the basic
posture data (.theta..sub.x1, .theta..sub.y1 and .theta..sub.z1)
stored in the EEPROM 118, and judges whether or not they are
identical (step S83). If it judges they are not, it will perform a
display processing of the correcting direction (step S84).
[0128] Incidentally, the display processing of the correcting
direction is the same as in the first embodiment of the present
invention description, and accordingly its description is dispensed
with here.
[0129] The user (the person requested to take the picture) corrects
the posture of the camera body 12 according to the icon information
on the correcting direction displayed on the monitor 30.
[0130] The CPU 110 again judges whether or not the shutter release
button 26 is half-pressed (step S85) and, if it judges that the
shutter release button 26 is half-pressed, will return to step S82
to acquire posture data again from the posture detecting sensor
152. On the basis of the acquired posture data, the CPU 110
determines the correcting direction, and have the necessary icon
for the determined correcting direction displayed. The user fully
presses the shutter release button 26 when any icon of the
correcting direction ceases to appear.
[0131] The CPU 110 judges whether or not the shutter release button
26 is fully pressed (step S86) and, if it judges in the
affirmative, will process recording of picture data (step S87).
Thus it takes in picture data from the CCD 124, subjects them to
necessary signal processing, and record them on the recording
medium 150. In this way, a picture in the same composition as that
of the picture the user earlier took is taken.
[0132] After this sequence, the CPU 110 turns off the zoom lock
flag (step S88) to recover a state in which zooming is possible,
and returns the shooting mode to the normal shooting mode.
[0133] In this way, the digital camera 10 embodying the present
invention in this manner can, if its shutter release button 26 is
half-pressed in normally taking a picture, the posture data on the
camera body 12 at the time are acquired from the posture detecting
sensor 152, and stored in the EEPROM 118.
[0134] As in the foregoing first embodiment of the invention, this
function makes it possible, even when another person is requested
to take a picture on behalf of the user, to easily take a picture
in the composition intended by the user.
[0135] Although in the second embodiment posture data are supposed
to be stored in the EEPROM 118 when the shutter release button 26
is half-pressed in the normal shooting mode, it is also conceivable
to have posture data stored in the EEPROM 118 when the shutter
release button 26 is fully pressed, namely when a picture is
taken.
[0136] While it is further supposed that, when the shutter release
button 26 is half-pressed at the time of requested picture taking,
the icon of the correcting direction is displayed on the monitor 30
on the basis of the posture data then acquired, it is also possible
to periodically acquire posture data at short intervals of time,
update the icon of the correcting direction from time to time and
display the updated icon on the monitor 30.
[0137] Further, the posture detecting sensor for detecting the
posture of the camera body 12 is not confined to what the second
embodiment is supposed to have, but any other sensor can be used
only if it can detect the inclination angles of three axes (the X,
Y and Z axes).
[0138] While the present invention is applied to a digital camera
capable of recording and reproducing still images in the preferred
embodiments described above, the present invention can be similarly
applied to digital cameras capable of recording and reproducing
moving images in addition to still images.
[0139] Although the foregoing description referred to cases in
which the present invention is applied to a digital camera, the
present invention can be applied not only to digital still cameras
but also to electronic devices having a photographic function
(photographic apparatuses) including digital video cameras,
camera-equipped cellular phones, camera-equipped PDAs and
camera-equipped personal computers.
* * * * *